Election 2026 | Question of the Week: Why are you running? What are the planks of your platform? — July 10
Each week through the Primary, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of space, about 100 words, for their response.
Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan races. Council members qualify in their respective districts but are elected at-large. This means all registered city voters may cast a ballot in each race regardless of where they live and the party to which they are affiliated, if any. This year’s Primary, on Aug. 18, features three Cape Coral City Council races: Mayor and the seats for District 1 and 6. District 4, with only two candidates, will be on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
Question of the Week: Why are you running? What are the planks of your platform?
• Lisa Cohen-Adkinson
I am running to make sure that we can afford to live here in the next five years.
Fix Cape Coral’s failing infrastructure, while investing in city employees & departments. Stop wasteful government spending, with full accountability by cutting the fat at the top!
No more pet projects while families struggle putting food on the table. All while threatening emails go out to city staff that they could lose their jobs if the $250k homestead exemption increase goes through. Why are our tax dollars being used to work against homeowners’ best interests?
UEP: Explore all options after a full audit, while fighting to repeal the 2014 Amendment to FS 255.20 that limits the in-house departments from saving the homeowners large amounts of money on the utilities expansion project.
• Richard Erickson
I’m running because Cape Coral needs leadership that puts residents ahead of politics, special interests, and wasteful spending. After 32 years serving our nation in the U.S. Army, I know leadership means accountability, integrity, and delivering results. My campaign is built on restoring trust in city government by fixing the broken permitting process, protecting taxpayers through fiscal responsibility, improving transparency, supporting public safety, preserving our quality of life, and ensuring growth pays for itself instead of burdening residents.
I’ll focus on core city services, responsible infrastructure, protecting our waterways and neighborhoods, and leading with honor every day.
• John Gunter (I)
I’m running to keep Cape Coral moving forward with proven results. I’m a results-based mayor, and together we’ve delivered three new firehouses, a fire training facility, a police training facility, and hired 80 new police officers and 80 firefighters. I value public safety and fully support our police officers and firefighters, and I help our Fire Department achieve national accreditation. We’ve also lowered the millage rate from 6.75 to 5.14, the lowest in any eight-year period in our city’s history. My platform is to ensure our public safety record and achievements continue, keep taxes low, address transportation needs, and expand utilities with minimal local funding by pursuing state and federal grants.
• Richard Leon
Government exists to serve the people, not the other way around. That’s why we deserve leadership that puts people before government and listens before it leads. I will fight for transparency and accountability, invest in infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth, strengthen our economy through responsible budgeting and support for local businesses, and keep public safety our highest priority. I will lead with integrity, fiscal discipline, and common sense while making sure every resident has a voice.
My promise is simple, to leave Cape Coral stronger, safer, more prosperous, and more united than I found it.
• Kara Brooke Rodgers
I am running because I believe that our city needs leadership that will critically evaluate the challenges our city is facing and prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term benefits. My top priorities if elected would be: (1) pushing progress on the UEP forward while defraying the cost to residents; (2) focusing on smart growth where infrastructure development matches new commercial and residential development; (3) protecting and preserving environmentally sensitive areas; (4) attracting high-wage jobs and working with schools and colleges to increase our local talent pool; and (5) critically analyzing our budget to identify inefficiencies.
• Dan Sheppard
I am running to be mayor to protect the quality of life we have in our city, to help bring unity to council to work as a team, and to keep the city moving in a positive way that benefits all citizens. Supporting and lifting our local business and entrepreneurs by simplifying the bureaucracy that holds so many back.
Working on a path to get the Yacht Club completed so families can continue to make memories. Continue focusing on the path to our magnet that brings quality investments to our city to pay for our much needed infrastructure and safety for the wellbeing of our families.
facebook.com/dan.sheppard.1650
• Sean Hartman
Simply put, I am running to serve the People of Cape Coral. I have watched as residents have had their voices ignored and their concerns go unanswered. I work in customer service and if I treated residents the way some Councilmembers treat them, I’d be out of a job. I want to bring my customer service experience to the Cape Coral City Council. My platform includes:
• Cutting the Public Service Tax and keeping taxes low
• Protecting our environment, parks programs, and nat-ural beauty
• Reforming permitting and deregulating homeowners
• Expanding Multimodal Transportation
• Opposing data centers and Flock cameras
• David Newton
I’m running for City Council because I believe Cape Coral deserves experienced, accountable leadership focused on the issues that matter most to residents. After a lifetime of serving my country in the military and my community as a police officer, I want to continue serving by protecting our quality of life. My platform is built on strong public safety, responsible fiscal management, improving infrastructure, addressing traffic congestion, increasing transparency and accountability, and supporting smart economic growth to strengthen our commercial tax base while keeping Cape Coral a safe, beautiful place to live.
• Thomas James Senatore
I am running because Cape Coral needs more leaders with real business experience serving on the City Council and in the Mayor’s office. Too often, elections are decided by popularity rather than qualifications, leadership, and proven results.
After owning and operating my own business for more than 40 years, I understand budgeting, contract negotiations, accountability, and making difficult financial decisions. I semi-retired two years ago because I believed I had the experience and skills to help our city make better decisions, eliminate wasteful spending, and ensure taxpayers receive the greatest value for every dollar spent. My platform is built on fiscal responsibility, transparency, smart growth, and putting the citizens of Cape Coral first.
• Tom Shadrach
I am running to get things done by using common sense and holding the city manager accountable for costs and schedules. Affordability is a major concern; the council has increased the three major taxes to the residents by 82% in the last five years. Safety is always necessary for any community. Police and Fire protection are a priority. Infrastructure – roads and water is the other major plank that must be a focus. My experience with program management and finance make me the most qualified to meet these goals to keep taxes and assessment down and making our government run more efficiently.
• Joseph Angrisano
“I’m running as a political and social conservative to restore fiscal responsibility, end wasteful spending, and deliver zero-conflict, collaborative leadership, focused on smart growth, UEP affordability, and taxpayer priorities in District 6.”
• Jeffrey Huddleston
The reason why I’m running is because the people “citizens” of Cape Coral are tired of this stupidity of the city. I see a lot of stuff that not too many other people see, because I observe what goes on here in the city. The city is wasting a lot of money in many ways. The voters need someone that is on their level that wants to see the city grow but not become another Tampa, Miami or Naples. We are different and should stay that way. There are so many issues that needs addressed such as traffic, new businesses, wasteful hiring within the city, projects not getting done, shortage on traffic police and many more.
• Liza King
I’m running for Cape Coral City Council to provide experienced, accountable leadership that puts residents first. As a lifelong resident with 30-plus years of public service, I’ll focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety, and prioritizing infrastructure.
• Ray Mule
I’m running because Cape Coral needs an independent voice willing to challenge the status quo and the political establishment. For too long, the same insiders, special interests, and well-connected groups have had too much influence while residents have been silenced. City Hall should answer to taxpayers-not developers or political insiders. My platform is simple: transparent government, fiscal responsibility, strong public safety, controlled growth that protects existing neighborhoods, and accountability for every decision and every tax dollar. I’ll ask the tough questions, stand up to the establishment when necessary, and always put the people of Cape Coral ahead of politics.
• Annette Warren
I am running for Cape Coral City Council because this city has been my home for over 40 years. I grew up here, raised my family here, and care deeply about its future. As an Air Force veteran and longtime community volunteer, I believe in integrity, accountability, and service before self. My priorities are finishing our infrastructure projects, practicing fiscal responsibility, increasing transparency, supporting public safety, encouraging smart growth that pays for itself, and bringing better jobs to Cape Coral. I will listen, ask tough questions, make informed decisions, and always put the residents of Cape Coral first.
• Jennifer Nelson-Lastra (I)
I’m running because I care deeply about this community and believe leadership starts with service. I lead with a servant leader heart and have spent my career bringing people together, solving problems, and delivering results. My priorities are responsible budgeting, supporting public safety, investing in infrastructure, creating economic opportunity, and keeping Cape Coral affordable and family-focused. I believe in listening first, making tough decisions when needed, and leaving our city better than we found it.
• James Vargas
I’m running to bring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility to Cape Coral. Residents deserve open government, a voice in major decisions, and leaders who own their mistakes and fix them. I will work to keep our city affordable by controlling taxes, fees, and wasteful spending while streamlining permitting, especially for Cape Coral businesses. I oppose large data centers, support protecting our water and natural preserves, and will defend personal freedoms by opposing expanded Flock camera surveillance. I also believe in honoring commitments to our youth by supporting organizations like the Cape Coral Rowing Club and investing in opportunities for future generations.